14 He causeth the grass H2682 to grow H6779 for the cattle, H929 and herb H6212 for the service H5656 of man: H120 that he may bring forth H3318 food H3899 out of the earth; H776
15 And wine H3196 that maketh glad H8055 the heart H3824 of man, H582 and oil H8081 to make his face H6440 to shine, H6670 and bread H3899 which strengtheneth H5582 man's H582 heart. H3824
16 The trees H6086 of the LORD H3068 are full H7646 of sap; the cedars H730 of Lebanon, H3844 which he hath planted; H5193
17 Where the birds H6833 make their nests: H7077 as for the stork, H2624 the fir trees H1265 are her house. H1004
18 The high H1364 hills H2022 are a refuge H4268 for the wild goats; H3277 and the rocks H5553 for the conies. H8227
19 He appointed H6213 the moon H3394 for seasons: H4150 the sun H8121 knoweth H3045 his going down. H3996
20 Thou makest H7896 darkness, H2822 and it is night: H3915 wherein all the beasts H2416 of the forest H3293 do creep H7430 forth.
21 The young lions H3715 roar H7580 after their prey, H2964 and seek H1245 their meat H400 from God. H410
22 The sun H8121 ariseth, H2224 they gather themselves together, H622 and lay them down H7257 in their dens. H4585
23 Man H120 goeth forth H3318 unto his work H6467 and to his labour H5656 until the evening. H6153
24 O LORD, H3068 how manifold H7231 are thy works! H4639 in wisdom H2451 hast thou made H6213 them all: the earth H776 is full H4390 of thy riches. H7075
25 So is this great H1419 and wide H7342 H3027 sea, H3220 wherein are things creeping H7431 innumerable, H4557 both small H6996 and great H1419 beasts. H2416
26 There go H1980 the ships: H591 there is that leviathan, H3882 whom thou hast made H3335 to play H7832 therein.
27 These wait H7663 all upon thee; that thou mayest give H5414 them their meat H400 in due season. H6256
28 That thou givest H5414 them they gather: H3950 thou openest H6605 thine hand, H3027 they are filled H7646 with good. H2896
29 Thou hidest H5641 thy face, H6440 they are troubled: H926 thou takest away H622 their breath, H7307 they die, H1478 and return H7725 to their dust. H6083
30 Thou sendest H7971 forth thy spirit, H7307 they are created: H1254 and thou renewest H2318 the face H6440 of the earth. H127
31 The glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 shall endure for ever: H5769 the LORD H3068 shall rejoice H8055 in his works. H4639
32 He looketh H5027 on the earth, H776 and it trembleth: H7460 he toucheth H5060 the hills, H2022 and they smoke. H6225
33 I will sing H7891 unto the LORD H3068 as long as I live: H2416 I will sing H2167 praise to my God H430 while I have my being. H5750
34 My meditation H7879 of him shall be sweet: H6149 I will be glad H8055 in the LORD. H3068
35 Let the sinners H2400 be consumed H8552 out of the earth, H776 and let the wicked H7563 be no more. Bless H1288 thou the LORD, H3068 O my soul. H5315 Praise H1984 ye the LORD. H3050
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 104
Commentary on Psalms 104 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 104
Ps 104:1-35. The Psalmist celebrates God's glory in His works of creation and providence, teaching the dependence of all living creatures; and contrasting the happiness of those who praise Him with the awful end of the wicked.
1. God's essential glory, and also that displayed by His mighty works, afford ground for praise.
2. light—is a figurative representation of the glory of the invisible God (Mt 17:2; 1Ti 6:16). Its use in this connection may refer to the first work of creation (Ge 1:3).
stretchest out the heavens—the visible heavens or sky which cover the earth as a curtain (Isa 40:12).
3. in the waters—or, it may be "with"; using this fluid for the beams, or frames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for chariots, and wind as a means of conveyance.
walketh—or, "moveth" (compare Ps 18:10, 11; Am 9:6).
4. This is quoted by Paul (Heb 1:7) to denote the subordinate position of angels; that is, they are only messengers as other and material agencies.
spirits—literally, "winds."
flaming fire—(Ps 105:32) being here so called.
5. The earth is firmly fixed by His power.
6-9. These verses rather describe the wonders of the flood than the creation (Ge 7:19, 20; 2Pe 3:5, 6). God's method of arresting the flood and making its waters subside is poetically called a "rebuke" (Ps 76:6; Isa 50:2), and the process of the flood's subsiding by undulations among the hills and valleys is vividly described.
10-13. Once destructive, these waters are subjected to the service of God's creatures. In rain and dew from His chambers (compare Ps 104:3), and fountains and streams, they give drink to thirsting animals and fertilize the soil. Trees thus nourished supply homes to singing birds, and the earth teems with the productions of God's wise agencies,
14, 15. so that men and beasts are abundantly provided with food.
for the service—literally, "for the culture," &c., by which he secures the results.
oil … shine—literally, "makes his face to shine more than oil," that is, so cheers and invigorates him, that outwardly he appears better than if anointed.
strengtheneth … heart—gives vigor to man (compare Jud 19:5).
16-19. God's care of even wild animals and uncultivated parts of the earth.
20-23. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed times and seasons.
24-26. From a view of the earth thus full of God's blessings, the writer passes to the sea, which, in its immensity, and as a scene and means of man's activity in commerce, and the home of countless multitudes of creatures, also displays divine power and beneficence. The mention of
26. leviathan—(Job 40:20) heightens the estimate of the sea's greatness, and of His power who gives such a place for sport to one of His creatures.
27-30. The entire dependence of this immense family on God is set forth. With Him, to kill or make alive is equally easy. To hide His face is to withdraw favor (Ps 13:1). By His spirit, or breath, or mere word, He gives life. It is His constant providence which repairs the wastes of time and disease.
31-34. While God could equally glorify His power in destruction, that He does it in preservation is of His rich goodness and mercy, so that we may well spend our lives in grateful praise, honoring to Him, and delightful to pious hearts (Ps 147:1).
35. Those who refuse such a protector and withhold such a service mar the beauty of His works, and must perish from His presence.
Praise ye the Lord—The Psalm closes with an invocation of praise, the translation of a Hebrew phrase, which is used as an English word, "Hallelujah," and may have served the purpose of a chorus, as often in our psalmody, or to give fuller expression to the writer's emotions. It is peculiar to Psalms composed after the captivity, as "Selah" is to those of an earlier date.